Concert Table – A la Spontaneous!

 

My tablescape is very late in getting posted but oh well we had a chance to do something fun and we took it!  

My husband was given some tickets late this afternoon to an awesome venue in our area!  It is an outdoor amphitheater with wonderful acoustics!  We love to attend concerts here but have not been to one in over 2 years!  We were lucky enough to have been given 6 seats so we invited some of our best friends to come along with us.

This theater is one where you bring a picnic and set up a tray table or if you are lucky like we were, your tickets include a table that is set up and ready for you to decorate and use.   Since these tickets were very last minute I did not have time to do my usual catering that I would have done.  Costco and Publix were my best friends today!   I purchased some wonderful roast beef and cheese at the deli and a bowl of fruit salad from Publix.  Then ran to Costco and bought this marvelous Greek pasta salad they make, a shrimp appetizer, some assorted cheeses, croissants,  cheesecake and some roses. 

I literally flew home, put together some roast beef and cheese croissant sandwiches, cut up the cheeses and packed the cooler with all the food and wine.  Grabbed a white tablecloth and runner, plastic flatware, paper plates and napkins.  Threw together a flower arrangement and we jumped in the car to head toward the concert!  (We had so much food it did not all fit on the table at the same time so some of it is not pictured)

Fabulous Fruit Salad from Pubix

My quick flower arrangement (Just some roses and greens thrown into some floral foam!)

Fresh Mozzarella from Costco and tomatoes from our garden drizzled with olive oil, basil and pepper and adorned with Greek olives.

Awesome cocktail shrimp – yummy!

  Everything worked out great!   The one thing that I was not able to use were my candles.   There had been some new rules put into place since the last time I attended a concert,  no "open" flames allowed.  You could bring candles but they had to be contained.   Apparently someone set their hair on fire a few years ago so they put some new rules in place!  Not knowing this I had brought this awesome candelabra for the table but did not use it.  It worked out fine because we had so much food there was no room on the table for all of it.   Unfortunately I did not get very many pictures,  we were rushed getting set up and we were MUCH too hungry!   

The concert was  Christopher Cross and America!  Do you remember them?    Christopher Cross had hits like “Sailing and the theme from the movie Arthur".   America had 30 albums and hits such as A horse with no name, I need you, Ventura Highway, Sister Golden Hair ….   It was a blast from my past, I have to say.  All but one of the band members has been with America for over 35 years!     I was laughing at the fact that I could sing almost every word to some of the songs (that I have not heard for YEARS) but I can not remember simple things like where I just put my keys!  Amazing!

We had a great time getting together with friends! Sometimes last minute surprises are the best!

Well I am tired, way too full and my tablescape is very late getting posted but I had fun! 

Have a blessed week!

Karyn

Thank you to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting TableScape Thursday!  She is celebrating her First Year Blogoversary, so head on over and pay her a visit!  She is a very talented lady and a wonderful person!    

Black & White is always right! – Corporate Dinner

Last Saturday night we hosted a dinner party for 17 people from my husband’s work. It was a mixture of fellow employees as well as customers who are all involved in the same project. I had to set two tables to handle the crowd! I set them entirely different since I did not have enough matching dishes for both tables.

I had everything planned out to the letter and of course, even the best laid plans go astray! The party was set to start at 6:00 PM but a group of guests showed up at 5:00 PM! I was kind of thrown off my groove and had to run upstairs to shower and dress before I was finished setting out the appetizers. (Or taking ANY pictures!) I had to re-create the tables to take pictures.

Please click on pictures to see in their entirety (Some of the pictures are showing only one half of the scene)

I wanted something that looked Corporate/Professional but would not be boring or incorporate any colors/elements that would be offensive to some of the (out of the country) guests. I chose the classic black, white and silver combination with champagne roses.

The China is Mikasa Platinum and Glasses from Southern Living

I alternated Silver and Black Placemats and Chargers as well as flatware. This is my solution to not having enough place settings of either and I think it makes it more interesting!

Napkin rings are from Pier One a few years ago

Champagne roses are a great addition to any table. They are very rich looking and compliment any color scheme

For more inspirational tablescapes, pay a visit to my friend Susan over at Between Naps On the Porch. Each Week she hosts the wonderful Tablescape Thursday event and provides a forum for all the talented bloggers to create, share and inspire!

Blessings to you!

Karyn

Metamorphosis Monday – Screened Porch

My husband and I built our home about 4 years ago.  When we chose the house plans, we made some modifications to it, one of which included a screened in porch.   My late parents had a screened in porch and we enjoyed it so very much that I considered it a “must have” in our new place.   I could enjoy the outdoors without having to share my space with blood suckers :)

(I am one of those people who the mosquito's can not get enough of and my daughter Madison has terrible reactions to mosquito bites. It drives us indoors for  most of the summer months.  I know there is bug spray, but too much deet can’t be good for you!)

Well the house was built, we moved in,  and our first summer came around and guess what?   I STILL could not sit outside, even on the screen porch.  They did NOT screen in the bottom of the porch, so the darned miniscule vampires were coming in through the decking underneath!   I was so bummed!

The other issue we had with the porch was that it sits on the west side of the house.  Everyday when the sun set, it was unbearable to sit out there for even a few minutes.  (like the proverbial ant and magnafying glass!)    Anytime we wanted to have dinner out on the porch we had double trouble, mosquitoes and the blinding sun! 

BEFORE:

Well this transformation is a joint effort in which my husband got the “HOT”  part of the job.  Bless his heart, he spent 4 days after work in near 100 degree weather, adding screening to the decking underneath.   (I do not have before and after pictures of this project and I wish I did! It was such allot of work!)

The porch furniture belonged to my parents and is very old but still in very good condition.  I wanted to “update” the look a bit so decided to re-cover the cushions.  I bought the upholstery fabric at an awesome discount store near my house.  I bought 20 yards (About $140 total)  I still have enough left to make a nice table cloth for the metal table (near the fountain) or napkins etc. 

AFTER:  Please click on pictures to see the entire photo.

   

We have a few fish in the fountain!

To cut down on the heat and glare we added some light curtains to the equation.  (Ikea - $149 – this includes shipping because my local store has not had them in stock for at least 3 months and had no ETA.  I called their phone order dept which is in Seattle)

You can see that closing the curtains really cuts down on the glare!

We are amazed at the transformation already! 

We are still working on some finishing decor touches (rug under the table, artwork for the brick walls, etc) but the foundation has been laid.  

Here are a few pictures of the porch at night…

It is a work in progress but I wanted to show you all how different it looks already!  Wow it is amazing what you can do on a budget if you try!

Have a great week!  Blessings to you and yours!

Karyn

Thank you to Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting another Marvelous Metamorphosis Monday!!  Click on the link above to see more amazing transformations!

Dinner at Dusk

Welcome to another awesome Tablescape Thursday hosted by our friend Susan over at Between Naps On the Porch! 

Tonight dinner is being served on the screened porch!  I want the table to be pretty but not overly fussy.

First I dug out my plastic (yes! I did say plastic)  Chargers and plates that we use when we eat outside, (Target – last year)  along with some placemats and napkins to match
(Homegoods – last year)

  I added flatware purchased from Ikea
earlier this summer.

Crystal Glasses that belonged to my parents just to bring in just the right amount of class!

 Skyview!

A beautiful candle –lit lantern adds just the right touch of ambiance and with its combination of wood & iron,  it complements ANY decor! 

(We only have a few of these left over at the Boutique so if you are interested in one please e-mail or post a comment)A few more little touches completes the look I am after. 

A few votive candles scattered around,  a couple of miniature faux flower arrangements as well as fresh white roses at each place setting. 

  Now I just have to cook dinner!!  

Blessings to you and yours!

Karyn

Powder Room…Under Construction….

Recently, I started a renovation project reconfiguring a powder room in order to add a shower. My elderly mother is no longer able to take steps and we have no facilities on the first floor for her to shower when she comes for overnight visits.

The powder room is a mere 45 square feet (5’ x 9’); fortunately a bit larger than most powder rooms, but still a tight squeeze.

First - the toilet and sink had to be moved to other areas in order to make room for the shower.

Sorry, no before pictures….this picture is after the plumber installed the plumbing for the shower and re-plumbed for the toilet and sink., both had to be moved to other walls.

I selected a white 36” x 48” Kohler cast iron shower receptor. (Pic from Kohler) I really like the weight and feel of the cast iron receptors and price wise they are comparable to installing a concrete shower pan and tile. There is no grout to clean and no future leaks or cracks to contend with.

Next up, I hired an electrician to rearrange the wiring for the light fixtures and outlets to accommodate the new configuration. We then installed tongue and groove bead board and crown moulding on the ceiling. I like the look of bead board and it was less expensive ($90) than hiring a drywall person to repair the damage from the rewiring The shower area was roughed-in and blue board was installed to replace the drywall. The vanity area is on the right and not wanting a pedestal sink I began a search for a small cabinet no more than 19” deep and 30” wide to fit the space. I was thrilled when I spotted this little cutie ‘on sale’. It is perfectly sized at 18” x 29”.

Presenting my Thrifty Treasure for the week.

I sawed off the top and took it to a marble fabricator to use as a template. Don’t cringe, she’ll be beautiful with a little paint and a new marble top.

Because the vanity top is only 18” deep it needed a tiny sink to allow room for a faucet. This proved to be a bit of a challenge, but I think (pray) this little Compass sink by Kohler is going to work..

I used bright white glazed wall tile for the shower. It’s inexpensive and offers a huge variety of specialty pieces. Perfect for detail cuts to frame out the window and seat. I worked on this tile project for two weeks. As mentioned in a previous post, I butter each piece individually, plus cutting is extremely time consuming. I painted Redguard (a waterproofing membrane) around the window as well as the shower area. The window frame will be painted the same as the trim after the tile is grouted and sealed. Any suggestions on a window treatment will be most appreciated. There is a set of steps leading to our guest rooms right outside.

This coming week I plan to grout and seal the tile, finish the trim, stain the ceiling and paint the walls and trim. I received a call yesterday and the sink (special order) has arrived. I will pick it up and take it to the marble man so he can finish the vanity top. I hope to be able to call the plumber by Thursday.

I will post my progress next week on Susan’s at BNOTP Metamorphisis Monday.

Thank you Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hostessing this weeks Metamorphisis Monday and Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for hostessing this weeks Today’s sThrifty Treasures.

Thank you Gina for hostessing Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Have a wonderful week!

Nola